Kim Jong-un visits military cemetery on 64th armistice anniversary

Pyongyang, July 28 (IANS) North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited a military cemetery on the anniversary of the 1950-53 Korean War armistice to pay tribute to those killed during the conflict, state media reported on Friday.

The KCNA news agency and the Rodong Sinmun daily reported that Kim on Thursday visited the Fatherland Liberation War Martyrs Cemetery, located on the outskirts of Pyongyang, to mark the 64th anniversary of the signing of the armistice.

Accompanied by several Korean People’s Army representatives, the leader solemnly bowed to a monument dedicated to the fallen, in what was his first public appearance in the last 15 days, reports Efe news agency.

North Korea commemorates this day as “Victory Day”, despite the fact that the war ended with a ceasefire that was never replaced with a treaty, meaning that the North and South are technically still at war.

The anniversary of the armistice came amid suspicions that Pyongyang could be planning another missile launch, following a report last week of a shuttle deployment near the town of Kusong.

The North Korean military has carried out several major launches this year in the northwest of the country, including the July 4 launch of its first intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) Hwasong-14, which was apparently capable of reaching US territory.